Horse Safety for Seniors

As you get older, you will need special advice to keep safe while engaging in something as challenging as horse riding. Everyone knows that our bodies change as we get older. Our flexibility deteriorates, muscle strength reduces and reflexes aren’t as sharp anymore. This can end up making a huge difference when you are on the horse back.

Horse riding requires you to have a strong posture and strong core muscle function. Riding also requires a flexible back and mobility in the hips and shoulders. The calf muscles need to need to be long and the hamstrings efficient too.

If you’ve never rode a horse in your life and want to start in your senior years, it will take a lot of hard work and dedication. It’s never going to be too late for you to start but it goes without saying that the younger you are, the easier it is going to be.

The most important thing is to increase your movement and flexibility. Most people have a stiff lower back and that’s just not going to cut it while riding.

You need to strengthen your core and abdominal muscles while riding too. Having a strong core will ensure you can remain stable on the saddle. The muscles need to be trained and exercised regularly for riding a horse.

The hips are usually tight in the elderly but riding requires a decent range in the hips so they can be rotated internally. So, if you have tight hips, they need to be stretched.

Training your muscles is the most important thing for riders to do. Older riders must focus on their flexibility or they are going to have a lot of trouble riding. Self-assessment is very important at times like these. Work on your endurance and make sure you are ready before you start riding.